Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton last session attempted by executive order to call a vote only to see the order thrown out by a judge.

Flanked by pro-union supporters at the State Capitol, lawmakers heralded the legislation that would have some 9,000 licensed and unlicensed family child care providers that receive state Child Care Assistance Program subsidies voting on the question of unionization.

Lisa Thompson, a St. Paul child care provider and president of Child Care Providers Together Local 3400 — a group associated with American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5 — conceded the initiative is controversial because it’s different from what some people think of unions.

Thompson and other advocates portrayed unionization as a means of reaching isolated businesses, improving training, offering collective bargaining for higher subsidies and more sensible regulations.

Under the bill, unionization would occur if more than half of the child care providers sign union authorization cards, or take other affirmative steps.

If this fails to occur, an election could take place if more than 30 percent of the providers indicate a willingness to join a union.